Thursday March 22, 2012 (Vol. 37 No. 24)
V O I C E
O F
W H I T E
R O C K
A N D
S O U T H
S U R R E Y
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Sounding the alarm: Hundreds die each year in fires that go undetected by faulty smoke detectors, which is why Surrey fire chief Len Garis is pushing for change. see page 27
Dan Bottrill says he has resolved his lawsuit with previous city after his position was terminated last year
Ex-Surrey staffer to lead White Rock Alex Browne Staff Reporter
White Rock has a new city manager. Dan Bottrill, a 20-year veteran of municipal government whose most recent position was deputy city manager in Surrey, took up duties Wednesday. He replaces Dennis Back, who was interim
acting manager since Feb. 1, following the sudden resignation of Peggy Clark last December. And while Bottrill filed a statement of claim in B.C. Supreme Court last August seeking damages from the City of Surrey – after the termination of his position in June – he said Wednesday the matter has been resolved,
although he did not give details. “It was unfortunate the city had a reorganization that terminated the position of deputy manager,” he said. “We had a bit of a disagreement, but that was completed last year. There is no difference between us. I have a great relationship with and healthy respect for the City of Surrey.”
Mayor Wayne Baldwin – who served as White Rock’s city manager for 23 years – said he and council are comfortable with the hire after a thorough process that “winnowed down” the field from 113 original applicants, with the help of Back and city human resources director Jacquie Johnstone. see page 4
Royal tree in way
History on chopping block Kevin Diakiw Black Press Alex Browne photo
Chuck Connors submits claims on behalf of his fellow residents.
Residents seek funds
Power struggle Alex Browne Staff Reporter
A total of nine power interruptions that plagued a South Surrey manufactured-home community since early December have spurred some residents to action. Chuck Connors – a member of an ad-hoc ‘executive committee’ of Breakaway Bays residents – delivered some 43 claims for damages to the office of manager Sandy Kowalski earlier this month, following on almost a dozen already submitted independently by unit owners. The new claims total more than $19,600 and seek redress for loss of food that residents say was spoiled when refrigeration units lost power over extended periods, plus various related damages, as well as return of some of the pad see page 8
Evan Seal photo
Jim Foulkes wants to save a 73-year-old tree with regal roots on King George Boulevard near 32 Avenue.
Surrey is planning to cut down a 70-year-old heritage tree in South Surrey to make way for road work, causing angst among residents who say its demise could be avoided. The tree has interesting roots. In 1939, England sent royal oak seedlings to all of its Commonwealth countries to commemorate the coronation of King George VI. The seedlings came from Windsor Great Park, a 5,000-acre park on the border of Surrey, England. Several of the seedlings were planted along the Pacific Highway, from the Pattullo Bridge to the U.S. border. The highway was renamed the King George Highway after a royal visit in 1939. (It was renamed King George Boulevard in 2010). One of the now 50-foot trees near 32 Avenue and 152 Street is slated for possible removal if the city can’t work around it during road improvements. A former member of the city’s Heritage Advisory Commission (HAC) says that could be avoided by siting the road around the tree. Jim Foulkes sat on the HAC for years and says the royal oaks south of the Nicomekl River on King George Boulevard have a special place in Surrey’s history. see page 4
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